In
Volume 1, Chapter 5 of Great Grandmaster Hwang Kee's
text, Tang Soo Do, he notes that Forms (Hyung in
Korean, Kata in Japanese) can be classified as
either Weh Ka Ryu or Neh Ka Ryu.

On pages 352-353, he lists 39 Hyung,
with 23 classified as Weh Ka Ryu, and 16 as Neh Ka
Ryu. There is also a second list in the paragraph
which follows this list naming the Hyung that would
be covered in Volume 2 of his text. Some of the
Hyung named in this second list are not named in the
first list. (Sip Soo, for example, is not in the
first list which classifies Hyung as either Weh Ka
Ryu or Neh Ka Ryu, which is why I used the term
"approximately 40 Hyung" as written above.)

The following is a nearly complete list of Hyung /
Kata name translation based on independent research.
Any mistakes are mine and mine alone, and my sources
are cited at the end of this article.

I will also attempt to give brief descriptions where
appropriate as to background and use of Hyung / Kata.
Obviously this is a subject for much further
in-depth study, so probably the best place to start
is simply to make a list.

This information and subsequent research into the
history and origins of Tang Soo Do Hyung also
cleared up a great deal of the confusion surrounding
how these Hyung came to be practiced by some, but
not all Moo Duk Kwan members. Although this is not
the primary focus of this article, it is important
to note that there were quite a few Korean martial
artists who trained in many styles of Karate in
Japan--not "only" Shotokan as is popularly thought.
I hope the following list will be of help and
stimulate further interest in exploring our Hyung.

Hyung

Kata

Weh Ka Ryu:

1.
2.
3.

Kee Cho Hyung
Il Bu
Kee Cho Hyung Ee Bu
Kee Cho Hyung Sam Bu

1 to 3 - In
traditional Karate systems, known as "Chi-No", Taikyoku",
etc.

Sanchin - This
Kata is the bedrock of Goju-Ryu & is believed to be one of
the oldest, if not the oldest, Kata ever known.

2.

Jun Jang

Unknown - This
is one of the few forms for which a translation could not be
found.

3.

Ssi San

Unknown -
However, this may be another version of Sei San,
perhaps from Goju-Ryu/Naha-Te?

4.

Ssi Boai

Unknown - This
may be another spelling of Seipai used in Goju-Ryu &
Shito-Ryu.

5.

Bae Rin Ba

Suparinpei -
"108" highly advanced form in Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu.

6.

Ssan Ssi Bbai

Sanseiru -
"36", also an advanced form in the Goju-Ryu & Shito-Ryu
arts.

7.

Sei San (Sei
Shan)

Seisan - Also
known as "Hangetsu" in Shotokan.

8.

So-Jin

Sochin - "Men
of Peace", well known in Shotokan.

9.

Sai Hoo Ah

Saifa - "To
tear and smash". Integral in Goju-Ryu and Shito-Ryu.

10.

Goo Reung Hoo
Ah

Kururun-fa -
"Calm the Waves". Used in Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu.

11.

Jin Toi

Chin-te -
"Bamboo Hands". Used in Goju-Ryu and Shotokan.

12.

Ji-On

Jion - "Temple
Sound" - Also a possible name of an ancient temple in China.

13.

Tae Kuk Kwon

Tai Chi Chuan
- One of the main internal Martial Arts of China.

14.

Ne Bboo Jin
Cho Dan
(Naihanji Cho Dan)

Naifanchin Sho-Dan
- Also known as "Tekki" in Shotokan.

15.

Ne Bboo Jin Ee
Dan
(Naihanji Ee Dan)

Naifanchin
Ni-Dan - Known as Tekki Ni-Dan in Shotokan.

16.

Ne Bboo Jin
Sam Dan
(Naihanji Sam Dan)

Naifanchin
San-Dan - The Naifanchin Kata are used in Shotokan and
Shito-Ryu.

The "Next List":

The second list, on page 353 of Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee's book
is in paragraph form, listing 15 Hyung (Kata) that Great Grandmaster
Hwang Kee stated would be covered in Volume II of his text. Most of
the Hyung listed above are on the list, but a few are not mentioned
above. They are:

1. Sip Soo--this Kata is known as "Jitte" in Karate-Do, and as Great
Grandmaster Hwang Kee explained in Vol. II, is classified as Neh Ka
Ryu.

2. So-ojin--it is my belief that this is merely another phonetic
spelling of the "So-Jin" Hyung listed above, and is probably not a
different name.

3. Sippal--this Kata is known as "Sei-Pai" in Karate-Do (Shito-Ryu,
Goju-Ryu) and is very well known in traditional Karate, with many
versions known to exist. However, I also believe that it is possible
that the "Ssi Boai" Hyung listed in the Neh Ka Ryu section above may
also be another name for the same Hyung / Kata.

It seems that the majority of the Karate Kata which were included in
the lists above were not all from the Shotokan system, founded by
Gichin Funakoshi. Research indicates that the founder of the Ji Do
Kwan (Chi Do Kwan), Grandmaster Yoon Kye Byung, was a student of
Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu, and Kanken Toyama, the
founder of Shudokan Karate-Do. Grandmaster Byung was perhaps the
only person to teach Karate in mainland Japan during World War II
who was of Korean heritage. This is an astounding achievement, given
the animosity between the Japanese and Korean people at this time,
and shows the respect given to Grandmaster Byung for his skills and
knowledge.

Grandmaster Byung apparently had a close relationship with Great
Grandmaster Hwang Kee as well, and by the late 1950's-early 1960's,
Grandmaster Byung merged his Kwan with the Moo Duk Kwan. This is
undoubtedly where the majority of the Hyung (Kata) from the
Shito-Ryu and Goju-Ryu systems made their way into the curriculum on
a limited basis in the Moo Duk Kwan. Although, as the list above
shows, not many people knew or practiced the forms from these
lineages. Also, since the Great Grandmaster had already begun some
sort of standardization of curriculum as well as research and
development of the Chil Sung and Yuk Ro Hyung, it seems apparent
that he chose which Hyung best reflected the needs of his students,
and chose which Hyung to include for required practice.

Another factor in the history and development of our forms can be
seen in the forms that are not based on Karate Ryu-Ha. The two main
examples are "So Rim Jang Kwon" (Shaolin Long Fist) and "Tae Kuk
Kwon" (Tai Chi Chuan). As most of us know, these are not only forms
similar to Hyung, but entire Martial Art systems that the Great
Grandmaster was exposed to during his training in China and
elsewhere. It also seems that he included these because they
reflected his own personal training as well as a method of teaching
students the Internal Martial Arts.

In the final analysis, this information is not necessarily "new"--it
has been in front of us the whole time. Based on this information,
and thanks to learning such Hyung as Passai-So and Wanshu-Te from
Kwan Jang Nim Ah Po, it seems that Great Grandmaster Hwang Kee chose
the Hyung that best represented the Weh Ka Ryu and Neh Ka Ryu
aspects of the art, and his development of the Chil Sung, Yuk Ro,
and Hwa Sun Hyung represented a fusion of these methods--or Chung Ga
Nyu .

In
reviewing this information with Kwan Jang Nim Ah Po, he was kind
enough to contribute the following, which is an important
distinction that should be noted when discussing this subject:

"Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee's classification of Hyung under either the
Weh Ka Ryu (outside the house) or Neh Ka Ryu (inside the house)
categories is specific to the hyung's choreography, covering a lot
of area or space (such as in Passai) or a minimal amount of area
(such as Naihanji forms). It has nothing to do with Weh Gong or Neh
Gong energy or power indicative of the techniques that the Hyung
consist of..."

"...the Traditional (Japanese and Chinese based) Hyung that we
continue to teach and practice currently in Tang Soo Do are those
that Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee felt were most beneficial to the style
that he developed. Also, many of the forms that he eliminated in
fact duplicate some of the techniques and choreography of those he
chose to retain."

As stated at the beginning of this article, this is a subject for
much more in-depth research and study. I hope that this will
stimulate thought and discussion about the history and evolution of
our Hyung, as well as create appreciation for all we have to learn
in our wonderful Martial Art--Tang Soo Do. Of course, more research
is needed to gain information, particularly on the three hyung
listed in the Neh Ka Ryu section: "Jun Jang", "Ssi San", or "Ssi
Boai" that could not be identified. I would humbly ask anyone
who is interested in the historical information presented here to do
their own research on the people (such as Grandmaster Yoon Kye Byung,
Kenwa Mabuni, Soke, and Kanken Toyama) and other Martial Arts
mentioned (Shotokan, Shito-Ryu and Shodokan, as well as Tai Chi
Chuan and Long Fist so as to form their own opinions and gather
their own knowledge about the history of Tang Soo Do Hyung.

As
mentioned earlier, any mistakes and/or omissions in this article are
mine and mine alone. I welcome any response and hope that other
senior Ko Dan Ja in Tang Soo Do will add their knowledge to this
subject.

Special thanks as always to Grandmaster Andy Ah Po, whose teachings
and knowledge are always an inspiration to "dig deeper" for
knowledge and understanding. Thanks also to Master Constantino
Terrigno, who also motivated me to look into this subject after
comparing many notes, and having many late-night conversations.

Tang Soo!

Bibliography and Recommended Readings:

● Unan-Te: The Secrets of Karate by John Sells. (W.M. Hawley
Publications) This book is a complete reference on nearly every
style of Okinawan and Japanese Karate, with information on all Kata,
lineage charts of all styles, and is a well-organized text.

● The Korean Martial Arts Handbook by Glenn Jones. (Hermit Kingdom
Publishing) This book is a similar text to the one listed
above,
with extensive information on nearly all Korean Martial Arts
history, schools, styles, etc.

● Shotokan Karate: A Precise History by Harry Cook. (Page Bros.,
Ltd., Norwich--Norfolk England) An excellent source for all
possible
questions concerning the history, development, and teaching of Shotokan throughout the world.

● Seishin-Kai Martial Arts: Kata Translation from Japanese to
English (private publication) by Kuniba Shogo, Soke.

●"Soo Bahk Do Dae
Kahm"(Tang Soo Do--Vol.1) Korean Version by Grandmaster Hwang
Kee (Sung Moo Sa Publishing [?]) In
addition to showing many Hyung
demonstrated that are not in the English text, Grandmaster Hwang Kee
demonstrates Hyung
such as O-Sip-Sa-Bo and Tae Guk Kwon (Tai Chi
Chuan). Of the 30 Hyung listed and/or demonstrated in the text, the
last 4
Hyung are described in written format only. If anyone has
any information on what those Hyung are, please let me (or the
Tang Soo Do community as a whole) know.